Crown Dependencies: Financial Regulation Review

Lord Hacking asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they will report on the Edwards review of financial regulation in the Crown Dependencies.[HL3924]

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The United Kingdom Government and the authorities in Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man welcome Andrew Edwards' report on financial regulation, which has been laid before Parliament today. Copies of the report are being placed in the Library and the Printed Paper Office. The report, which has been produced in consultation with the Islands, contains detailed accounts of the legislation and regulatory arrangements on Jersey, Guernsey and
the Isle of Man respectively. It confirms that the arrangements in place conform in large measure to the internationally accepted standards of financial regulation.

The report also concludes that there are a number of changes which could raise standards still further, both in the United Kingdom itself and in the Crown Dependencies. In many cases, these conclusions are in line with policies which are already being developed. The United Kingdom Government and the Island authorities have agreed to meet in January 1999 to begin the task of examining systematically the conclusions of the Edwards report and the plans of action being drawn up by the Islands and the United Kingdom in response to those conclusions. This programme will include new arrangements, under my chairmanship, for all the parties to meet jointly on a regular basis to take stock of progress. These meetings will take place alternately in London and in one of the Crown Dependencies.

The United Kingdom and the Island authorities believe that the Edwards review and the follow-up

19 Nov 1998 : Column WA206

action on its conclusions should further strengthen effective financial regulation in the Islands and, in so doing, contribute to the long-term health of the Island economies.

Voluntary Sector in Wales: Compact with Government

Lord Brooks of Tremorfa asked Her Majesty's Government:

When an announcement will be made about the compact between the Government and the voluntary sector in Wales.[HL3919]

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The compact between the Government and the voluntary sector in Wales was published on Wednesday 18 November. Copies of the document have been placed in the Library.

Books under Prison Rule 16

Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will give a list of the books approved by the Secretary of State under Prison Rule 16, as available for prisoners undergoing cellular confinement.[HL3873]

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The following books are approved by the Secretary of State under Prison Rule 16:

Church of England

Holy Bible Authorised Version,

Holy Bible Good News,

Alternative Service Book,

Morning and Evening Prayer and Order for the Holy Communion,

Mission Praise: Words Only,

Mission Praise: Music Only.

Roman Catholic

Simple Prayer Book,

Shorter Morning and Evening Prayer from the Divine Office,

New Jerusalem Pocket Bible,

Celebrational Hymnal for Everyone: Music Version Volume 1,

Celebrational Hymnal for Everyone: Music Version Volume 2,

Celebrational Hymnal for Everyone: Words Only.

Methodist

Sunday Services,

Hymns and Psalms A Methodist and Ecumenical Hymn Book: Music Only,

Hymns and Psalms A Methodist and Ecumenical Hymn Book: Words Only.

19 Nov 1998 : Column WA207

Sikh

Sacred Nit Nem.

Hindu

Bhagavad Gita.

Muslim

The Meaning of the Glorious Koran/Quran,

The Holy Koran/Quran.

Buddhist

Buddha Daily Readings.

Jewish

Tanekh--The Holy Scriptures,

Authorised Daily Prayer Book.

Christian

Where Are You Going: (On the right track with Jesus),

Inside Faith,

What's The Point?

Discovering Prayer,

God Help Us.

Other books not shown on the list may be issued under Standing Order 7A 26 which allows prisoners to have in their possession religious or devotional books or periodicals made available through a chaplain or visiting minister.

Immigration Detainees: Prison Service Places

Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many places have been offered to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate of the Home Office by the Prison Service for Immigration Act detainees.[HL3875]

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Prison Service provides 500 places for immigration detainees predominantly at Haslar, Rochester and Holloway.

The Immigration Service is discussing with the Prison Service how it might help to deliver the Government's commitment to hold immigration detainees in discrete centres separate from prisoners. The possibility of further Prison Service sites being developed as immigration detention centres is being considered but no places have been offered to the Immigration Service at present.

Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many Immigration Act detainees were held in each of the prisons or detention centres in use for this purpose on 30 September.[HL3876]

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The available information relating to persons held in detention solely

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under Immigration Act powers as at 30 September 1998 by place of detention is given in the table.

Persons recorded as being in detention(1) solely under Immigration Act powers as at 30 September 1998, by place of detention

Location

Total Detainees

Immigration detention centres

Campsfield

182

Dover Harbour

20

Harmondsworth

63

Heathrow's Queen's Building

14

Longport

8

Manchester Airport

11

Tinsley House

143

Prison establishments

Aberdeen

3

Belmarsh

11

Birmingham

5

Blakenhurst

2

Bristol

2

Brixton

6

Canterbury

6

Chelmsford

3

Doncaster

4

Dorchester

2

Elmley

2

Edinburgh

3

Feltham

3

Greenock

8

Haslar

133

High Down

24

Highpoint

3

Holloway

24

Holme House

3

Leeds

6

Leicester

2

Lewes

3

Liverpool

3

Magilligan

7

Manchester

5

Norwich

5

Pentonville

7

Rochester

181

Wandsworth

9

Winchester

2

Wormwood Scrubs

20

Other prison establishments

4

Total

938

(1) Excluding persons detained in police cells.

Preventing Unsuitable People from Working with Children: Working Group

Lord Swinfen asked Her Majesty's Government:

(a) How many meetings there have been of the Inter-departmental Working Group on Preventing Unsuitable People from Working with Children and Abuse of Trust;

(b) how many organisations the group has consulted;

(c) how many organisations the group has met; and

(d) when they expect the final recommendations of the group to be published.[HL3851]

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The working group has held a total of 14 meetings: three of the full group,

19 Nov 1998 : Column WA209

acting as a steering group, and 11 of the various sub-groups set up to take forward particular aspects of the work. It produced a consultation document which was initially sent out to 116 organisations. In addition, the group has consulted various organisations which subsequently expressed interest and a number of individuals, including Peers and Members of Parliament, also received the consultation letter. Members of the working group have met a number of organisations informally and the group will be holding two seminars at the end of the month to involve a number of organisations from the voluntary, private and business sectors.

The group expects to report its conclusions and recommendations to Ministers at the end of the year; we would expect to make public the recommendations shortly after this.

River Wye Navigation Order

Lord Onslow of Woking asked Her Majesty's Government:

When the report of the inspector's inquiry on the River Wye Navigation Order was received; and when the results of the inquiry will be announced.[HL3911]

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The inspector's report was received in February 1998. The decision will be announced as soon as possible.

Quat

Baroness Anelay of St. Johns asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have reconsidered their view on the criminalisation of Quat use as a consequence of publication of the Home Office Drugs Prevention Initiative Research Paper 26 Quat use in London.[HL3880]

Lord Williams of Mostyn: There is little evidence that the use of quat is having, or is capable of having, harmful effects sufficient to constitute a social problem in the United Kingdom, the criterion for controlling drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The publication Quat use in London does not alter that assessment, and we have no plans to bring the plant under the controls of the Act, but we will keep it under review.

Asylum Seekers

Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Michael O'Brien, Minister of State, Home Office, on 30 March (HC Deb, WA 388), whether they will provide a breakdown of the numbers of asylum seekers currently detained under Immigration Act powers by stage of application and immigration status at the time of detention at the most recent convenient date.[HL3882]

19 Nov 1998 : Column WA210

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The available information relating to those currently detained under Immigration Act powers by stage of application and immigration status is given in the table. The figures relate to the end of October 1998.

Number of people recorded as being detained (3),(4) on 30 October 1998 (4) and 2 November 1998(4) who had sought asylum at some stage, by stage of application and immigration status

Stage of application

Port

Illegal Entrants

Subject to Deportation action

Total

Awaiting initial decision

157

285

6

448

Awaiting result of appeal

95

49

15

159

Awaiting result of further challenge or documentation for removal(5)

60

77

12

149

Total

312

411

33

756

(2) Persons detained solely under the powers contained in Schedule 2 or 3 of the Immigration Act 1971.

(3) These figures are approximate because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period.

(4) After entry figures obtained at 30 October 1998. Port figures obtained at 2 November 1998.

(5) Includes those persons awaiting the result of a further appeal/other challenge or awaiting removal pending documentation.